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ATLANTA – Evan Holyfield made the most of his first opportunity to fight in his hometown and the city where his legendary father engaged in one of most memorable bouts.
With his famous father sitting ringside, Holyfield, on his 24th birthday, knocked Charles Stanford cold in the second round of their junior middleweight match on the Jamel Herring-Shakur Stevenson undercard at State Farm Arena. The Houston resident took some clean shots during the first round, but Holyfield hammered Stanford with a left hook and then a right hand that sent Stanford crashing to the canvas.
Referee Mark Nelson immediately stopped the fight, just 30 seconds into the second round. Holyfield improved to 8-0 and recorded his sixth knockout.
Cincinnati’s Stanford stayed down for several minutes, but he eventually was helped to his feet and was able to walk out of the ring. The 35-year-old Stanford (6-4, 3 KOs) lost by knockout for the third time in 10 professional fights.
In the opening round, it appeared as if Stanford would give Holyfield a difficult fight.
Stanford landed a left to the body that made Holyfield hold him about a minute into their fight. Holyfield responded during the final minute of the first round with his own hard left to the body and then a right hand up top.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.